Chapter 20 #2
Sometimes I caught him grinning behind the face mask and ballcap. Other times, he rubbed at his forehead as his head shook slightly. Occasionally, his eyes glowed with the kind of interest he’d been showering me in lately.
The unfiltered reactions to my words, to the story woven together from my soul, made me hopeful. If he could give my books a chance and love them, others could, too.
“Serenity!” a sing-songy voice chirped.
My gaze snapped from Dante to the entrance where Addie, Iyla, and another girl walked in.
Behind them was an equally familiar face, but one I’d only seen on a screen or from afar in a stadium—Perseus Mavros from Sinners Do It Better.
I gasped with a bright smile and leapt to my feet as the group approached my table.
Addie had her blonde and pink hair in a bun with pink strands down to frame her face.
Jeans and a pink sweater hugged her petite frame.
Iyla was bundled in a peacoat with a toboggan pulled over her chocolate-colored hair while the stranger with hair as dark as night shuffled between them.
Perseus was at her back, a hand lightly on her hip.
“Hi, guys!” I beamed.
Iyla’s brown eyes sparkled as they looked over my books. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell us you’re an author! I’m glad Dante texted and told us to come by.”
“He did?” I asked, my cheeks warming as they found Dante across the room.
Dante no longer stared at his book but peered at me over it. Even from behind the book and the rest of his disguise, his smile was unmistakable.
Laughing happily, I turned back to the girls and Perseus. “He didn’t know until today. I wanted to surprise him, so I kept it a secret.”
“I knew you were a badass,” Addie teased, leaning in closer. “The rest of the gang is busy with work or school, but the three of us were able to make it out.”
“Three?” Perseus asked her. “What am I? Invisible?” The guitarist met my gaze. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
My cheeks heated to alarming levels. “R-Really? All good things, I hope.”
“Meh,” Perseus shrugged.
The dark-haired stranger swatted at him. “Don’t listen to him. He’s such a liar. I’m Harper, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you,” I told her.
Harper smiled softly, though I noticed there was a sort of haunted exhaustion in her blue eyes. “You, too. These two girls have mentioned you a bit. Sorry we’re just meeting. I’ve been … sick for a while and am just getting back into the world.”
The teasing air left Perseus as he traced her waist softly in some sort of comforting gesture.
“Oh, gosh,” I said with a sympathetic frown. “I’m so sorry. I hope you’re feeling better.”
She took a deep breath and nodded slowly. “I’m getting there. Thanks.” Harper gestured at my books. “We wanted to grab your books if you still have some left.”
Addie held up three fingers. “We need three sets of your complete trilogy, please.”
The request had my heart soaring to the moon. Not only had they come out here to see me, but they also wanted to buy my books. The support was more than I’d ever received, and stupid happy tears threatened to brim my eyes. I smiled them away and got to work, signing the nine books.
“Are you okay here if I go talk to Dante?” Perseus asked Harper.
Harper nodded. Perseus kissed her temple before striding across the bookstore to join Dante at his table. The two members of Sinners Do It Better clapped hands and began conversing, though Dante’s gaze kept trying to sneak glances of the book he’d left open on the tabletop.
“You and Dante are really close now, hmm?” Iyla teased lightly.
My cheeks warmed, and I glanced up from where I was signing my name to catch all three girls smiling knowingly. Clearing my throat, I explained, “He’s a really good friend.” I paused and added softly, “My best friend, honestly.”
“Right,” Addie said, drawing out the word. She held up fingers to make air quotes. “‘Friends.’ The same way Iyla and Zagan or Harper and Perseus are ‘friends.’ Honestly, all three of you need to just buckle down and own up to it.”
Iyla bit the corner of her lip and ducked her head while Harper scratched the side of her nose and glanced at the man in question. Neither one denied the accusation.
I handed them their books, and after we got Perseus to take our photos together, the girls and the guitarist left.
Their surprise visit and Dante’s constant presence made this day better than anything I could’ve hoped for.
Even with the absence of those who claimed to love me most, I had other people in my corner.
By the time I neared the end of my scheduled signing, Dante appeared to be over halfway through the book.
His attention was firmly fixed on the page, and I was content to watch him read my work, though I itched to know all of the thoughts behind those dark eyes.
I only stopped dwelling on what he could possibly be thinking when my signing time ended.
I stood and started to pack my things when Dante reappeared at my side.
“All done?” he asked me.
“Yeah. I was just here until 6.”
Dante grinned and tugged his face mask down while tipping his ballcap back some. “Then how about I take you out to celebrate your release day?”
A flurry of excited nerves broke out inside of me. “Really?”
He tilted his head closer, shadows hiding half of his face, yet even that darkness couldn’t hide the fire glowing in his gaze as it traced my body.
I held my breath as my eyes fluttered, preparing for the feel of his lips on mine.
It didn’t matter that we were still in the bookstore.
All I could focus on was his mouth drawing closer.
The bell above the door chimed, drawing my gaze sideways. I gasped, and my heart nearly exploded with unease. I quickly turned to stare wide-eyed at the men who’d just walked in.
“B-Bradley?” I stammered.
Bradley stared at Dante, who stood back to his full height beside me. Tension sizzled in the air, making me swallow hard.
This was going to be bad.